PA-28 Cherokee 180C, G-AVGK - 31 years at Liverpool.

[viscount]

Piper PA-28 Cherokee 180C, G-AVGK

Another aircraft that became something of a symbol of LAC/LFS was their long serving Cherokee 180, G-AVGK. Operated by LAC, KAS and LFS, for around 17 years, and was based at Speke in all for around 31 years.

The aircraft was built by Piper Aircraft at Vero Beach in 1966, with the construction number 28-2639 – showing it to be the 3640th Cherokee 150/160/180 produced of the 6,411 built before the introduction of the updated, re-designed, Archer and Warrior models.

The aircraft was built in the USA, brought to Europe in a crate and assembled at Geneva, making its first flight on 27th January 1967 as N9516J. It arrived in the UK on delivery Geneva to Kidlington, 3rd February 1967 and soon after registered and repainted as G-AVGK. Following a UK C of A being issued 23.2.67, it was delivered to initial owners, Gower Aviation at Fairwood Common (Swansea) on 25th February. After 3 years at Swansea was sold to T.C.Edwards (Construction) Ltd of Romsey, Hampshire and based at Thruxton. Re-registered to sales agents Shackleton Aviation at Coventry in June 1971, and very soon after that, on 5th July 1971, arrived at Liverpool Airport, via Barton, in part exchange for Cherokee 180 G-ASIJ on purchase by Liverpool Aero Club.

G-AVGK arrived still in its standard Piper factory scheme of the period, with a red fuselage cheat-line from the back of the cockpit glazing to the fin and red top to the engine cover. Soon after arrival ‘Liverpool Aero Club’ titles were applied below the cheat-line and cockpit window, and upright winged ‘Liver Bird’ logo on the tail. These lasted long after similar logos had disappeared from the rest of the fleet. By March 1980, ‘GK acquired a blue fin and rudder, with KAS lettering and ‘speedbird’ logo in yellow. When the rest of the fleet were repainted during 1985/1986 with a blue top to the fuselage, ‘GK retained it’s original red colours. The Cherokee 180 initially filled the role as a four-seat ‘tourer’, providing flexibility for qualified members to take family and friends further afield. From summer 1978, G-AVGK was operated mainly from Caernarfon each summer on pleasure flying and charter work, returning to Liverpool for winter maintenance. She returned to Liverpool 5.10.85 when Keenair Services sold their lease on Caernarfon Airfield. Following a period of storage she was overhauled and reflown 16.9.86 with a new C of A and rejoined the Liverpool LFS fleet, although also advertised for sale at £13,000+VAT. She was sold early in 1988 to a group of LFS members, who formed the ‘Golf Kilo Flying Group’. During the first half of 1988 G-AVGK was fitted with new avionics, a newer engine and was repainted in smart new colour scheme. Initially she was still available for use by LFS when required, and for a short while gained the ‘Liverbird’ tail logo early 1990, although the agreement concluded June 1990 and the logo removed. She was operated by the ‘Golf Kilo Flying Group’ from Liverpool for some 14 years. During 2002 corrosion was discovered and a decision taken to sell the aircraft. She departed Liverpool, dismantled, by road on 29th November 2002 for Colchester, Essex after some 31 years based at Liverpool (although 8 summers were spent at Caernarfon).

New owner, Ian Chaplin set about making the necessary repairs at Colchester, and 9 months later sold the aircraft, in autumn 2003, to Michael Bush of Thaxted, Essex. Early in 2009 it was purchased by General Aero Services at Thurrock Airfield. It was subsequently sold and re-registered as G-ZZIJ on 18.9.09 on purchase by Lawrence Webb as trustee of the G-ZZIJ Group with a Braintree, Essex address. Official ownership was passed locally to Elaine Hutchinson of Ongar as the new trustee of the G-ZZIJ Group in late 2013. During summer 2020 it was sold to the current owner Michael Meddle of Leigh-on-Sea, Southend.

The CAA were informed that on 9th March 2021 the airframe had recorded 10,134 flying hours, with the current ARC to expire near the end of March 2022. The now 55 year old (as at October 2021) aircraft has amassed a great number of hours in the air, but has moved around the country only a little, with owners in Swansea, Hampshire, Merseyside and Essex, with over half of those 55 years being spent mostly at Liverpool.



G-AVGK in a line-up of Liverpool Aero Club aircraft 20th July 1972.



G-AVGK on the western apron 26th April 1973



Not the most brilliant of images, but shows G-AVGK caught landing on 17 (ie over Bryant and Mays) sometime Spring 1977



Another busy western apron shot which happens to include G-AVGK, either 15th or 16th January 1979, note the diverted BA Super VC-10 and a Transmeridian CL-44 with the tail open at the terminal.



A mix of her old factory red scheme with the blue tail and K.A.S. speedwing logo added. Seen in the sun on 9th April 1983 while on a camera walk-around on Grand National Day.

[ronturner]

Thant's another one I flew quite a lot.